FC releases November Ranking for 2013 NHL Draft

There are only 30 players that will hear their name called in the first round of the 2013 NHL Draft.

And while it’s a foregone conclusion that consensus top pick Nathan MacKinnon will be one of those 30, several individuals have raised their play and started to solidify their march to June’s draft.

One such player is MacKinnon’s teammate Jonathan Drouin. The standout forward has jumped into the top-10 for the first time this season on the strength of an impressive start. Despite losing games to injury, Drouin is already among the QMJHL’s leaders in points. In fact, no draft eligible has produced at a clip equal to Drouin’s 2.22 points-per-game.

And while Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds defenseman Darnell Nurse certainly isn’t relied on for his offense, the six-foot-five, 192-pound blueliner is impressing scouts at both ends of the ice enough to start garnering top-10 consideration. Just knocking on the door, the 12th ranked Nurse has already eclipsed all statistical totals from his rookie campaign a year ago.

Nurse isn’t the only defenseman shining.

Looking to make that same contribution to the draft class is National Team Development Program blueliner Keaton Thompson, who has skyrocketed up the ranking to land at 17th. The University of North Dakota commit used the month of November to make his name known amongst his peers.

The same can be said for both Shea Theodore of the Seattle Thunderbirds and Minnetonka’s Tommy Vannelli. Both rearguards have made their debut in Future Considerations’ Top-30 in November and will have every opportunity to strengthen their position moving forward.

Theodore and Vannelli weren’t the only new debuts in November, either. A pair of FC draft eligibles of the month for October also made their mark this month.

After earning Ferda Hockey FC Forward of the Month honours for October, Anthony Mantha made his move into the top-30. Spencer Martin of the Mississauga Steelheads, who was named October’s FC Goaltender of the Month, now joins the Halifax Mooseheads’ Zachary Fucale as the only two netminders in the Top-30.

With the likes of Mantha, Martin, Vannelli and Theodore pushing for first round consideration, it speaks volumes to the depth and talent available in 2013 – a depth that has 30 NHL teams excited for June.